Into New Year, 2013
January 5, 2013 at 16:37 It´s almost two months since my previous post. The reason is that I simply wanted to stay away from many things for a while, this site including. The latter part of 2012 was great with a lot of good things happening in my life. The other side of coin was that I became involved in too much. I still seem to forget the ever tightening limits of strength which getting older means. Anyway, now it is again time to look forward and think also about how to develop this site.
Last year was the first year on this platform. Admin tool shows the number of unique visitors having been over 260.000! Thinking about over a quarter million readers is really bewildering. Just as astonishing is seeing how readers come from all over the world. Photography seems to be totally ignorant of borders, we all share it equally. Of course all this is possible only because so many other sites from every part of the world are linking to my site. I only wish I could read all those languages! Thank you to all my readers and everyone who is linking to my site!!!
So far I have not been thinking about having advertisement or other forms of revenue from my site because having the site is not expensive as such. Also I have not had any mission or definitive goals for this site. This has been a hobby which has simply evolved as it has. Also I have not wanted to have any commitments or other restrictions. While doing tests is very time consuming, it seems that there has been a need for what I have been doing and writing. So, like I wrote, I need to think about how to continue with my site.
The biggest disappointment while looking back is the state of my web portfolios. I have had not enough time to work on my images and develop my portfolios. This is will be changed. That´s one reason why I will turn down most work offers this year. I will do less lecturing, less anything, and concentrate mainly on my own photography.
It is customary to form best of lists at the end of year. For me, personally, the best new camera of 2012 was Olympus OM-D. At the beginning of last year I had various camera stuff, now I have got rid of Canon, Nikon and PhaseOne. I simply did not use any other cameras since OM-D came. Other than OM-D I would name Sony RX-1. I have yet to actually test it but what I have read and little seen is very convincing. Of lenses there is also one above all others, M.Zuiko 75mm f/1.8. One of the best among all tens of lenses I have ever used or owned. Software of the year must be Lightroom 4, however dull it may sound. Well, years and stuff comes and goes. Experiences and images are what stays.
So, with these thoughts, again a sincere thank you to every one who reads this and all others who have visited this site! You make this worth doing!
-p-
Reader Comments (8)
Well, its a relief that you have not abandoned your readership - we appreciate your perceptive and informed insights!
Hello! and of course Happy New Year!
I don't comment sites much, but I've read your reviews and tutorials regularly and your ETTR articles revolutionized my E-M5 and PEN photography. Thanks very much for what you've done.
I'm 58 years old and very familiar with the problem of over-extending ones self as one ages. Please take the time you need and when you do share, it will be the better for it. You need to have a life and sometimes we get caught up in this social media revolution and end up consumed by it.
Again, thanks for all you've done and I look forward to seeing what's to come.
Best Regards,
John
Your site is best when it comes how to use equipment and how to take most of it. Very informative site overall. I think you are doing right thing and your site is known all over other sites.
For me your best contribution was OLYMPUS E-M5: EXPOSING (TO THE RIGHT) AND LIGHTROOM 4.1 post. I also enjoy to read all other OM-D reviews. Voigtländer 17.5mm and Olympus Zuiko 17mm f1.8 reviews were my most wanted reviews to read.
I finally bought Voigtländer and now I just love it with all those quirks. Reason why I didn't buy Zuiko was to have that massive aperture f0.95 low light use after work at evenings and ability to use minimum focus distance 0.15m. Overall lens is joy to handle with OM-D+Grip and that focal length works for manual focus very well. Other great thing is that now OM-D supports IBIS for legacy lenses with video!
John, John and Maitani Fan: Thank you for your kind words!
-p-
Happy to hear Pekka that you have come to the conclusion that images are the reason cameras are made. Even though both of us are "retired old commercial geeks", it is great to hear that you are giving your creativity and urge to see a fair chance, without any limitations, commercial or other expectations etc. With great interest to the new year ahead...
yeah in that ETTR article for the om-d I think I really learned much about how to properly expose digital images. thank you.
Ditto to John's comments......I'm in the US and consider myself an advanced novice :-) and have very much benefited from your thoughtful entries and can't thank you enough for the clarity you provide in contrast to much of the information scattered across the interwebs. I'll check in often for any future entries , at whatever pace you choose, as I've found that it is always worth the wait . Was about to pick up the OMD when news of the impending 'Spring announcements' broke .......alas , a bit more wait and see
I wish you a good and fruitful (if slightly belated) New Year.
I enjoy your insights as a relatively new photographer of a "mature" age. I moved from point and shoot to m4/3drs two or three years ago when my camera was water damaged, and am still learning about the GF1 and G1 that I bought late in their model life - my focus being on lenses that came with them and not particularly the latest and greatest of bodies. When I learn these cameras better, then I can think about upgrading, but am not ready for, or deserving of a new body yet. I am also still deciding what kind of photography inspires me. Just to take pictures of things is nice, especially of pleasant landscapes or especially one's family, but it seems to me that what I want to do with an camera is not just about representation.
I am also thinking that I would like to try to learn and experiment with wide lenses, from 8 or 9 mm (16-18mm FF equivalence). There does not seem to be a prime lens for m4/3rds less than 12mm. There are two wide zooms, the Panasonic 7-14mm, and the Olympus 9-18. The latter would be handier on my GF1 (which I tend to use more than the G1) but reviews and personal reactions in forums seem not of the best.
Will keep reading.
Thank you for posting.
Frank